Phlesirtes hanangensis Hemp n. sp.

(Fig. 4. K, L; Fig. 5 D; Fig. 10 C; Fig. 16)

http://lsid.speciesfile.org/urn:lsid: Orthoptera .speciesfile.org:TaxonName:496066

Holotype male. Tanzania, Mt Hanang, 1900 m grassland at lower border of montane forest, May 2006. Depository MfN.

Paratypes. 1 female, same data as holotype. Depository MfN . 1 male, 1 female, same data as holotype. Depository BMNH .

Additional material examined. 6 males, 5 females, same data as holotype. Collection C. Hemp.

Description. Male Colour pattern. Brown with little green. Abdomen brown-black with broad black lateral fasciae. Legs. Fore and mid tibiae with two rows of each 6 spines ventrally, being the only species to present in the genus with 6 spines (usually 5). Spines of hind tibia black tipped. Abdomen. Space between processes of 10th abdominal tergite almost rectangular (Fig. 4 K). Outer branch of cercus almost ending where inner branch starts; slender, little curved (Fig. 4 L).

Female. Colour pattern as in male but more brown. Ovipositor typical for genus (Fig. 10 C). Subgenital plate shield-like as in Fig. 5 D.

Measurements male (mm) (N=7). Length of body 8.0 –10.0 (mean: 9.1), length of pronotum 4.2–4.7 (mean: 4.4), length of anterior femur 2.3–2.5 (mean: 2.4), length of posterior femur 9.7–11.3 (mean: 10.1), visible part of elytra from above 0.4–0.6 (mean: 0.5).

Measurements female (mm) (N=5). Length of body 12.2–13.0 (mean: 12.5), length of pronotum 3.5–3.8 (mean: 3.7), length of anterior femur 2.5–2.7 (mean: 2.6), length of posterior femur 11.2–13.0 (mean: 12.0), ovipositor 10.4–12.5 (mean: 11.3).

Diagnosis. P. hanangensis n. sp. is the only member of the genus to present having two rows of each 6 spines on fore and mid tibiae. It is easily recognized by the shape of the male cerci: the outer branch is almost reduced, ending blunt and the inner one slender and little curved. Also P. gladiolus n. sp. has male cerci with a very short outer branch and an inner branch starting almost where the outer branch ends but has two rows of each 5 spines on fore and mid tibiae and a different shaped gap formed between the processes of the 10th abdominal tergite.

Habitat and distribution. Only known from the montane zone of Mt Hanang, north-western Tanzania. It occurs in grasslands and in grassy patches along hedges at the lower border of the montane forest.